[Who performs therapeutic apheresis?]

Apheresis is part of the service provided by the transfusion medicine department. We perform approximately 220 therapeutic procedures per month. The staff are lab technicians - most of whom began their careers in the laboratory, but are now dedicated full-time to therapeutic (and donor) procedures. A few continue to do evening shifts in the laboratory.

[ABO/Rh typing prior to transfusion]

Patients that have a previous type in the computer are drawn by a single authorized phlebotomist (physician, tech or RN). Patients that have not been previously typed are drawn as before but an additional signature is required on the requisition that verifies identification of the tube label and the patient's wrist band. The second signature must also be from authorized personnel (tech, physician or RN).

[Another question about 2nd typing patients.]

Historical types are used for issuing FFP, cryo or platelets in our lab.

[Polio in childhood]

Given the possibility of post polio syndrome in adults that suffered from polio as children, should these potential donors be excluded as donors (? virus latency)